12 The Soverane Herbe 



prophecies were literally Inspired by tobacco. He 

 smoked himself into a state of stupefaction, and on 

 returning to his senses told of the knowledge he had 

 gained at the council of the gods. The red-stone 

 quarry from which they dug the material for their 

 pipes was sacred ground, where members of all tribes 

 met in peace and amity. Tobacco was the American's 

 constant companion, so much so that time and dis- 

 tance were reckoned by pipes : ' I was one pipe (of 

 time) doing it '; or ' The place is seven pipes 

 distant.' 



And the omnipotence of tobacco was soon to 

 become world-wide. The herb burnt and inhaled by 

 the savages of America was erelong to be the solace 

 of all mankind, and the inspiration of the world's 

 greatest men. Though noticed by Columbus on his 

 first voyage to America, and well known to all 

 Europeans subsequently visiting the New World, 

 tobacco was not introduced into Europe until the 

 latter half of the sixteenth century. To Francis 

 Hernandez de Toledo, a physician sent by Philip H. 

 of Spain to investigate the products of Mexico, is 

 generally awarded the honour of having brought 

 tobacco into Europe. The date of this is fixed as 

 1559. He cultivated it in Spain for medicinal 

 purposes and for ornament. It was, indeed, as a 

 drug that tobacco came into the Old World. 



From Spain it was introduced into other countries. 

 In the same year (1559) Jean Nicot, Lord of Ville- 

 main, was sent as Ambassador of France to the 

 Court of Portugal. In Lisbon he purchased some 

 tobacco-leaves and seed from a Fleming, who traded 



